I wake up with a gasp and my body arches off whatever bed I’m laid on. My lungs feel like they’ve been void of air for so long, and my chest burns. All my joints groan in agony, and the sides of my head hurt like I’m being gripped by a vice.
I don’t know what’s happening to me, but one thing I’m certain is that I’ve got to breathe.
“Woah there, ease up,” a voice calls from my right, soothing and kind of familiar. “You can breathe, you’re okay now. Come on, calm down, and let your lungs do their job. Come on, now.”
Someone gently pushes me down the bed as my lungs actually start to do their job, and I pant, my eyes rotating but not really seeing. Everything is still so blurry.
“That’s right, breathe nice and slowly. It’s going to be hard at first, but you’re going to get used to it. It’
